Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has received an Outstanding Contribution Award from the Music Venue Trust for her work in Parliament championing grassroots music.
Caroline was presented the award at Venues Day in Shoreditch, London, attended by live music establishments from across the UK in recognition for her work in Parliament to keep grassroots music venues alive. In 2024 the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee that she Chairs produced a groundbreaking Grassroots Music Venues report, with recommendations including a £1 charge on every ticket at major stadium and arena gigs to be reinvested into grassroots venues, artists and promoters.
The proposal has been influential across the globe, with Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada all looking to adopt a similar model. Over 30% of 2026 UK shows are supporting the voluntary contribution so far, with artists like Harry Styles signed up to support. This will see an estimated £5 million re-invested back into the live music ecosystem this year. In July 2025 the Royal Albert Hall became the first 5,000+ seater arena to adopt the levy, whilst other artists like Sam Fender, Coldplay and Katy Perry have also adopted the levy for their tours.
Caroline received the award alongside Lord Kevin Brennan, who currently Chairs the Independent Fan Led Review of Music which the Committee also recommended in its 2024 report.
Over 500 grassroots music venue owners gave Caroline and Kevin a standing ovation as they were surprised with the award following their Keynote speech at 2026 MVT Venues Day at Shoreditch Town Hall.
The UK’s 801 grassroots music venues have found themselves on the frontline of financial and operational challenges over the last few years including energy prices and increased regulatory burdens. The average profit margin for a grassroots music venue is just 2.5%.
Grassroots music venues are the research and development department for the UK’s £8 billion music industry. However, the resilience of grassroots music venues to financial shock is weak, which is why of the 366 small music venues Ed Sheeran played while learning his trade, over 150 are now closed, and only 11 of the 34 venues Oasis played to launch their careers remain.
Speaking about her gratitude for the award, Caroline said:
“Music venues like Quay West Studios in Gosport represent the research and development department for the UK’s globally successful music industry. That’s why the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, which I Chair, has been pushing the Government to solutions to a crisis which saw 30 venues close last year.
“I’m really grateful for this award. I know how much these venues mean to local communities, budding music talent, and everyone who relies on them for employment, so I’m delighted to be able to stand up for them in Parliament.”
Commenting on the Outstanding Contribution Award given to Caroline & Kevin, MVT COO Beverley Whitrick said:
"Music Venue Trust only has one award it bestows, the Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Music. Early in the planning of Venues Day 2026 we knew exactly who should be the co-recipients of this accolade because they have made such a difference to the sector they care so passionately about. Since announcing the CMS Select Committee Inquiry into the challenges facing grassroots music venues at Venues Day 2023, Caroline and Kevin have worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support to create positive change. It was clear that the assembled representatives of GMVs across the UK attending Venues Day this week completely agreed with this award and Team MVT are delighted to be able to thank them with this small gesture."
ENDS
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